Gum Disease

Gum Disease - Abilene, TX

Do Your Gums Bleed Easily?

You May Have Gum Disease

Gum disease often starts without any concerning symptoms. You may notice your gums are tender and red or they bleed easily when you brush or floss. It’s important that you don’t ignore these symptoms! Gum disease can quickly turn into a serious problem that affects both your oral and overall health. A progressive condition, gum disease begins when plaque on the surface of your teeth hardens into toxin-releasing calculus. This bacteria will irritate the gum tissue, causing them to become infected and pull away from the teeth. Without proper treatment to remove the calculus and bacteria from on and around your teeth, the inflammation will only worsen. Advanced stages of gum disease have even been linked to systemic conditions including respiratory disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Bleeding gums may not seem concerning now, but advanced periodontal disease can irreversibly damage your oral structures and harm your physical health! Our dentists have decades of experience treating gum disease in Abilene, TX and are here to restore your smile and overall health with personalized treatment, including laser therapy.

Alarming Symptoms of Gum Disease

Gums that bleed during brushing and flossing

Red, tender gums that are receding

Chronic bad breath or bad taste in mouth

Pockets developing between teeth

Shifting, loosening teeth or tooth loss

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Our Gum Disease Treatments

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical treatment that is generally our first step in treating gum disease. Scaling rids the teeth of all calculus and tartar buildup, both above and below the gumline. Root planing smooths these surfaces to eliminate bacteria and help healthy gums reattach and reseal around the teeth.

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Osseous Surgery

Osseous surgery is needed for more advanced cases of gum disease, where inflammation and bacteria have irreversibly damaged the bone and gum tissue. The gums are “flapped” back to gain access to the tooth roots and bone. Then all calculus and bacteria are cleared away, the bone is reshaped, and diseased gum tissue is cut away. The periodontal pockets are irrigated and treated with antibiotics. Finally, the gum tissue is sutured back around the teeth to reduce the pocket depth.

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Periodontal Maintenance

Unfortunately, all stages of gum disease besides gingivitis cannot be cured, only managed. We’ll ensure that gum disease does not return by providing periodontal maintenance every 3-4 months. This is a deep cleaning of the teeth above and below the gum line, including the periodontal pockets. Without the continuous accumulation of calculus and bacteria, gum disease has a smaller risk of returning in the future.

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Laser Gum Therapy

You can now opt for scalpel-free gum disease treatment thanks to our laser technology. Without the need for incisions or sutures, we can remove the calculus and bacteria from your teeth and eliminate the unhealthy tissues, all while keeping as much of your healthy oral structures in place. Healing after laser therapy is incredibly fast, with minimal pain or bleeding.

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Related Periodontal (Gum) Disease Articles

The Link Between Heart & Gum Diseases

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Understanding Gum (Periodontal) Disease

Have your gums ever bled when you brushed or flossed? This most commonly overlooked simple sign may be the start of silent (periodontal) disease leading to tooth loss. Learn what you can do to prevent this problem and keep your teeth for life…
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Diabetes & Periodontal Disease

Periodontal (gum) diseases are inflammatory conditions that were once thought to have affected the mouth alone. Emerging evidence has changed this view and now suggests that periodontal diseases may play a role in numerous conditions that impact systemic (general) health and well being, including diabetes.
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